Today's Office: Smaller, Open, Flexible -- And LOUDER

Forbes -- It’s not your imagination—typical office space is shrinking dramatically. The modern office is also much more open than the traditional one.

While a smaller, open-plan office may help your budget and increase your flexibility, it also increases noise and distraction. It may alienate employees used to having more personal space.

Here’s the low-down on the latest office designs and how they can help—or hurt—your business.

Blame The Cloud?

Though office buildings aren’t shrinking, the average tenant spaces inside them are smaller, says Norm Miller, professor at the University of San Diego’s Burnam-Moores Center for Real Estate.

Part of the reason is more remote workers and others who spend less time at their desks. In the average office, “You see space about half occupied at any given time,” Miller says. “It’s because of the cloud and different document storage methods. You can access your files anywhere; it really doesn’t matter where you are.” (Full Story)